Monday, March 15, 2010

During last Sunday's Planet Algol game the players decided upon a bit of petty larceny, plotting to break into the Tower of the Twin Sky Masters (twin silver men with pterosaur mounts who report vulnerable travellers to a band of slavers).

The party was invisible and foolishly tried to maintain their invisibility by not attacking the buzz-saw armed armored bear while running around the tower trying to loot it. This is where rule 0 comes in play. "You may be invisible, but if the room was completely dark a bear would be able to find you, especially as you're wearing armor and bleeding."

The players could have used slowing magic on the bear and than kept their distance while blasting it with their firearms, lasers and calcium bombs. But no, it was like the invisible stooges trying to loot the tower while dodging a furious saw-bear. Trying to carry a heavy metal chest away while a saw-bear is attacking their invisible ass and the like.

Five characters died before the saw-bear was slain...and yes, indeed two of the players were cursing J Rients!

Now one's initial reaction may be "An armored bear with circular-saws for forepaws? What kind of stupid shit is this? Seriously guy, are you trying to make a joke of D&D with your saw-bears and crap? I thought this was a serious campaign setting, not some Encounter Critical-esque joke!"

My absolute favorite Dungeonmastering moments have to be when there's this perfect balance/tension between the Gonzo/Absurd and the Serious/Logical, where the game feels like a Coen bros. movie with swords & monsters.